Casing-spear.



. No. 782,506. I PATENTED FEB. 14, 1905.

F. W. JONES.

CASING SPEAR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 15.1903.

UNITED STATES Patented February 14., 1905 PATENT OFFICE.

CASING-SPEAR- SPECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 782,506, dated February 14, 1905.

Application filed September 15, 1903. Serial No. 173,321. I

To all whont it may concern.-

" portion of the casing with which -it engages and which is easily detached from the casing when desired. 1 accomplish these objects by means of the casing-spear described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my improved casing-spear. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved casing-spear. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofa fragment of the same on a plane at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 1 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the two forms of the casing-engaging wedging-slips.

In the drawings, Ais the stock of the casing-spear, the upper portion of which is provided with screw-threaded nipple A for its attachment to the bit-stock or other device by which it may be operated. Below the nipple a square section A is provided for the reception of a wrench by means of which the stock may be screwed into the bit-stock. On the lower portion of the stock are formed the four downwardly and outwardly inclined guideways B and C, which are provided with dovetail guide-lugs B and G, on which are mounted the ribbed or barbed wedge-slips D and E, having dovetail grooves D and E, which lit over the dovetail lugs of the guideways and retain the wedge-slips in place thereon. The wedge-slips D are connected together by the crossbar F, which moves in slot G, which extends transversely and longitudinally through a portion of the stock and guide-lugs B. This cross bar extends through holes H in the wedge-slips and should be rigidly secured to one of the slips and is movable in the other.

WVedge-slips D have notches I in the edges thereof for the reception of the top portion or wings E of the wedge-slips E. so that the movement of the slips on the guideways shall be uniform and all will move together in the same direction and at the same time, thereby contacting with the pipe almost the entire circumference thereof when it is being removed from the well or loosened therein. Below the wingsthe slips E are reduced in size to fit between the lower port-ion of the slips D. These wedge-slips are provided with upwardly-directed barbs or serrations,

so that they are adapted to bite the casing when the spear is moved upwardly therein. In the lower portion of the stock is a central hole J, which houses the upper portion of the retracting-rod K, the head K of which is held spring-pressed against cross-barF by spring L when the slips are in their inoperative position. The lower ends of the retracting-rod and the spring are housed by the screw-cap M, which is screwed upon the lower end of the stock. The lower end of the retractingrod is screw-threaded for the reception of nut N, which provides a convenient means for drawing the retracting-rod against the pressure of spring L until catch O therein comes.

opposite trigger P, when the trigger may be pushed into the catch and the nut removed. Spring L will then cause catch O to enter notch P in the trigger, a hole being provided in the cap, and the retracting-rod will be held in its inoperative position and the tool attached to the bit-stock may be lowered into the casing. The trigger is secured to a spring R, which is secured to the cap, and is retracted from engagement thereby when the retracting-rod is pushed far enough to bring the catch 0 out of the notch of the trigger.

Catch 0 is located in the retractive rod at a point that will permit the wedge-slips to engage the casing whenever the tool is drawn upwardly therein and when the slips are in full engagement with the casing will cause the movement of the retracting-rod to release the trigger from engagement with the catch therein. The spring L is strong enough to raise and keep the wedge-slips in their elevated position after they are released from engage-.

ment with the casing, which can be done at any time that it is desired to remove the tool by permitting the weight thereof to come upon the stock, thus bringing the slips to the smaller part of the stock.

In the operation of my device the spear is secured to the bit-stock and the retracting-rod is secured in its inoperative position and the nut on the end thereof removed. The tool is then lowered into the casing. As it passes down the wedge-slips slide along the casing, and when the desired point is reached the u ward movement of the tool causes the engagement of the slips with the casing, which is then jarred loose in the usual manner and can then be removed or shifted, as desired. The full engagement of the slips with the casing releases the trigger from the retracting-rod, and as soon as the slips are disengaged from the casing, which iscaccomplished by permitting the weight of the tool to come upon the stock, the retracting-rod pushes the slips upward and holds them in a position ,in which they will not engage the casing as the tool is drawn upward, and it may be withdrawn without difliculty.

By this construction the casing is engaged at almost its entire circumference and all danger of splitting or getting it out of proper shape is avoided.

Other means may be used for securing the wedge-slips upon the inclined guideways than the dovetailed lugs and grooves; but I find them most convenient in practice.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a casing-spear the combination of the tool-stock having downwardly and outwardly extending guideways; and two sets of coacting wedge-slips mounted upon opposite sides of the said inclined guideways, one of said sets having notches in the edges thereof and the other set having wings projecting into the notches of the first set, whereby said slips are caused to move together up and down the guideways.

2. In a casing-spear a tool-stock having four downwardly and outwardly extending guideways arranged in oppositely disposed pairs; and having dovetail lugs on their faces and acentral hole therein extending to nearly the top of the inclined faces; two sets of coacting wedge-slips having upwardly-projecting barbs and dovetail grooves on their inner faces arranged to move upon said guideways on. the opposite sides thereof, one of said sets having notches in the edges thereof and holes extending therethrough; longitudinal slots through said stock in register with the holes in said set of wedge-slips; a cross-bar passing through said slot and hole in the stock and into the holes in the wedge-slips; a second set of wedge-slips having wings projecting into the notches of the first set; a spring-operated retracting-rod having a catch therein housed in said stock, said rod bearing against said cross-bar; a spring-operated trigger adapted to be pushed into engagement with the catch in the retracting-rod and hold the same from pressing against the cross-bar.

3. In a casing-spear two oppositely-disposed wedge-slips having wings at the top portion thereof; a pair of oppositely-disposed coacting wedge-slips having notches in the edges thereof, said wings adapted to fit into the notches of the coacting pair of Wedge-slips and cause all the slips to move in the same direction at the same time.

4. In a casing-spear a spring-operated retracting-rod having an opening therethrough near the lower end thereof one side of which is lower than the other at the bottom of the opening, the higher side forming a square notch; a cap housing the lower end of said rod and having an opening therein; a flat spring secured to said cap; a trigger having a square notch in the lower face thereof secured to the lower end of said spring, said trigger being adapted to pass into the opening in said cap.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of August, 1903.

. FREDERICK W. JONES. Witnesses:

G. W. GREGG, J. G. GREGG. 

